Dial adding machine



' w. c. THOMPSON 2,166,081

DIAL ADDING IACHINE July 11, 1939.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 15, 1935 6 I7 3 g l3 Arrow 6) y 11, 1939- w. c. THOMPSON 2,166,081

DIAL ADDING IACHINE Filed March 15, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 V 1/ '1', rillllllnvlllllll 'II'IIIIIIIIIIIII I. I T:

IIYVEN role MY/lbm (ii/6000720 my Patented July 11, 1939 UNITED STATES 2,166,081 DIAL ADDING MACHINE William Calhoun Thompson, Seattle, Wash.

Application March 15,

3 Claims.

My invention relates to dial operated adding machines in which one dial number rotor acts directly upon another to carry the tens. The objects of my invention are: To make this tens carrying direct action reversible so that it subtracts as well as adds with any number of dials; To expose a complementary total as well as a positive total, which when the total is below zero is the total below zero; To arrange the dialing numerals, the plus and minus totals, the dialing stops, the zero setting guides and the rotation direction indicators for easy understanding and easy correct operation; And to best adapt it to both the finger and the stylus operated sizes.

I attain these objects by the mechanism and markings illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the framepiece upon which the working parts are to be mounted; Fig. 2, a plan view of the same plus the working parts mounted; Fig. 3, a front view of the assembly shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a plan view, with cover added, of the complete finger operated size machine; Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section of the same taken through line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6, a plan view of a section of the framepiece of a small size stylus operated machine; and Fig. 7 is a plan View of a section of the complete small size machine; Fig. 8 is a front elevation partially in section of the modified type of assembly; and Fig. 9 is a vertical transverse section of the same taken through line 9-9 of Fig. 7.

Similar numerals refer to throughout the several views.

Dial rotors I, which are in the general shape of a rounded straw hat, each of which are mounted on the framepiece 2, by means of an axially disposed dependent stub shaft 3 rotatably mounted at its lower end within its correlated hole 4 formed on the framepiece 2, with the steadying efiect of the rotor brims 5, resting on the stepped up planes 6, of the framepiece, in such a manner that each lower order number rotor brim overlaps without touching that of the next. I Each rotor is normally held in or moved to the nearest of ten definite positions by the pressure of a V shaped part of one of the springs I, held by the framepiece, fitting into the wide part of one of ten inverted T shaped holes 8, through the cylindrical side of its crown.

snugly fitting over the outer edges of the framepiece 2 is a cover 9 adapted to normally enclose the assembly above described, said cover having a rectilinear row of openings 9a formed therein in spaced relation, one for each of the similar parts 1935, Serial No. 11,252

crowns Ia of the dial rotors I, said openings being disposed in axially aligned relation with their correlated rotors, whereby an unobstructed view of the latter is obtained, see Fig. 4. Formed within the edge of each of said openings 9a above its correlated crown la is a notch I0, whereby a portion of the brim 5 of the rotor I associated therewith is exposed to view for effecting reading of the numerals I9 upon the brim 5 in registration therewith. Similarly formed within the edge of each of said openings 9a below its correlated crown Ia andin substantially diametrically opposed relation to the notch I0 is a notch II, whereby another portion of the brim 5 of the rotor I associated therewith is exposed to view for 1 efiecting reading of the brim numerals I9 in progressive registration therewith.

Each rotor is dialed to add by placing a finger in the one of the dial holes I2, marked by the desired one of the digits I3, on the cover 9 of the device, and then rotating it in the direction of the arrows through decreasing number positions to that of the zero of said digits I3 until said finger contacts a stop or projection I4 provided upon the cover 9 for each dial rotor I, thereby limiting dialing action of the rotor being actuated, as will be manifest and apparent.

Each dial is likewise operated to subtract by dialing the hole marked by the desired one of the smaller digits I5, which in both size machines is on the framepiece showing through a dial hole I2, in the direction opposite to that for adding and therefore opposite to that of arrows, until a stop projection I4, stops the operating means with the dialed hole in the 0 position of the second digits I5, across the stop from that of the digits I3.

Each rotor has one of the dial holes I6, distinguished from the others by one of the sector vmarkings II, on its crown. In the positions where these sector markings fit into the extension markings I8, on the cover below the stops, the Os of the series of digits I9, are marked on the rotor brims 5, where they are exposed through the openings II] in the cover above the rotor crowns with the other consecutive digits marked on each in even spacing as the rotors are dialed to add.

As the rotors are rotated either way directly betweenthe positions of each, thus exposing a 9 and a 0, a rotor actuating tooth 20, extending out from each rotor brim, because of greater distance from its axis, first takes up a slight clearance space, then by engaging in the stem part of the T shaped holes 8, through the side of the next higher order number rotor, effecting a tenth revolution thereof, and then moves through a similar space to prevent back action. This action correctly carries the tens for both adding and subtracting so that the series of the exposed digits I9 is the complete total of the machine when the total is not below zero, more easily read than the series of the digits I5 which show through the marked dial holes I6 of the rotors, which is also the same number, the positive total.

Each rotor is set back to its zero total position Without affecting any other rotor, by dialing the marked hole I6, backwards to the stop.

The openings II in the cover below the rotor crowns, are so placed as to expose the numerals 2|, of which all but one 10 are digits, marked on the rotor brims between digits I9, thereon, in such a manner that on the lowest order number rotor the numeral 2|, exposed is the ten complement of the digit I9, exposed above, and on each of the other rotors it is the nine. complement thereof. When the last total digit I9, is its complement below is 10, making desirable the printed direction on the cover: If 10, carry to next figure, which also applies to all figures made ten thereby, as on all rotors when they are all in the zero positions, which makes the 9, 9, 9, 10. of the four rotors shown read 0, 0, 0, 0. The complete number thus read is the round number one greater than the highest possible total for the machine, complement of the total above, and is'the total below zero when the total is below zero.

To help the operator avoid mistakes in the direction of dialing the rotors which alternates in the rotors to add and opposite to that to subtract: The stops I4, are on the side of each rotor that is dialed downward to add, giving a feel check to both the operating the right way and the operating the right rotor instead of the next one; Pointers are marked on each rotor and on the cover, indicating the direction to operate each to add.

In the slightly modified type of stylus operated calculating machine illustrated in Figs. 6 to 9,

inclusive, the numeral I designates dial rotors of the same shape as the rotors I which are mounted upon their framepiece 2 substantially in the identical manner hereinbefore described for said rotors I, said rotors I having brims 5 and being mounted upon stepped up planes or portions 6 of the framepiece 2. Each of the rotors I is normally held in or moved to the nearest of ten definite positions by the pressure of a V-shaped portion of a spring I mounted upon the framepiece 2, which V-shaped portion is adapted to progressively engage a series of inverted T-shaped openings or slots 8 provided in the cylindrical walls of the crown portion I" of said rotor I.

snugly fitting over or upon the outer edges of the framepiece 2 is a cover 9' having a rectilinear row of openings 90 formed therein in spaced relation, one for each of the crowns I",

' of the dial rotors I, saidopenings being disposed in axially aligned relation with their correlated rotors, whereby an unobstructed View of the latter is obtained, see Fig. 9. Formed within the edge of each of said openings 90 above its correlated crown I is a notch Ill, whereby a portion of the brim 5 of the rotor I' associated therewith is exposed to view for effecting reading of the numerals I9 upon the brim 5 in registration therewith. Similarly formed within the edge of each of said openings 90 below its correlated crown I, and in diametrically opposed relation to the notch III, is a notch II, whereby another portion of the brim 5 is exposed to view for effecting reading of the brim numerals IS in progressive registration therewith.

Each rotor I has one of its dial holes I6 distinguished by a sector marking I1, and in the position where the latter registers with an extension marking I8 on the cover 9, the zero of the series of digits I9" are marked on the rotor brim 5, where it is exposed to View through its correlated opening II. Stylus stops I4 are provided upon the framepiece 2 in radial alignment with the markings I 8, such stops being disposed in annular alignment with the annular row of second digits I5.

Each rotor I is provided with a perimetral tooth 20 adapted to engage, when rotated, the T-shaped slots 8 of the rotors I immediately adjacent'thereto. In the larger or stylus operated machine which is adapted to permit both an adding and a subtracting dialing digit to show through each dial hole, the adding digit I3, is on the side in the hole that the rotor it shows through is turned downward to add, and the subtracting digit IE3, on. the side the rotor is turned downward to subtract. Such features as the total openings I0, the negative total openings II, the stop projections I 4, the zero setting sector extension markings I8, the word Stop indicating the positions of two stops, the word Cents between the'last two rotors and the word Dollars between the two before those, are all on adjacent sides of each pair of rotors, starting with the last two paired, all of which emphasizes the fact that downward between each. pair is the direction to dial each to add.

I am aware that addingmechanisms have been invented without intermediate gearing between the number rotors, so do not make this broad claim, but

I claim:

1. In a calculating machine the combination of a base having a series of numbered dials upon the upper face-thereof, a reversible rotor for each of said dials rotatively mounted upon said base in axial alignment with its correlated dial and provided with a concentrically disposed crowned portion, each of said portions having a series of peripheral apertures formed therein and an annular row of apertures formed within the upper wall thereof for registration with the numbers on its correlated dial, a perimetric tooth on each of said rotors, the tooth of a lower order rotor being adapted to engage the peripheral apertures of the next higher order rotor, detent means for each of said rotors adapted to releasably engage the peripheral apertures thereof, and a cover provided with a series of openings through which said crowned portions normally project.

2. In a calculating machine the combination of abase having a linear row'of numbered dials upon the upper face thereof, a reversible rotor for each of said dials rotatively mounted upon said base in axial alignment with its correlated dial and provided with a concentrically disposed crowned portion, each of said portions having a series of T-shaped slots formed in the periphery thereof and an annular row of apertures formed within the upper wall of same for registration with the numbers of its correlated dial, a perimetric tooth on each of said rotors, the tooth of a lower order rotor being adapted to engage the peripheral slots of the next higher order rotor, yieldable detentmeans for each of said rotors having V-shaped terminals adapted to releasably engage the peripheral T-shaped slots thereof, and a cover provided with a row of linear openings through which said crowned portions normally project, each of said openings having a stop projecting inwardly from the edge thereof.

3. In a calculating machine the combination of a base having a linear row of numbered dials upon the upper face thereof, a reversible rotor for each of said dials rotatively mounted upon said base in axial alignment with its correlated dial and provided with a concentrically disposed crowned portion, each of said portions having a series of inverted T-shaped slots formed in the periphery thereof and an annular row of apertures formed within the upper wall of same for registration with the numbers of its correlated dial, an annular row of numbers upon the marginal portion of each of said rotors, a V-shaped marginal tooth on each of said rotors, the tooth of a lower order rotor being adapted to engage the reduced upper portions of the inverted T-shaped peripheral slots of the next higher order rotor, resilient detent means for each of said rotors having V-shaped terminals adapted to releasably engage the enlarged lower portions of the inverted T-shaped slots thereof, and a cover provided with a series of openings through which said crowned portions normally project, each of said openings having a stop projecting inwardly from the edge thereof and having oppositely disposed notches formed in said edge wherewith the numbers upon the marginal portions of said rotors progressively register.

WILLIAM CALHOUN THOMPSON. 

